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Workshops and Training

I have worked in the mental health field for nearly 10 years now, as a counsellor, trainer and clinical supervisor. Over the years, I have seen how access to professional development can improve quality within organizations, as well as increase the sense of morale and support felt amongst staff. Working with clients experiencing mental health challenges, trauma and/or addictions requires continual skill development on the part of staff, and careful attention to issues such as compassion fatigue, burnout and vicarious trauma. Contact me today for a free consultation on the training needs of your organization. Below you will find several descriptions of my most popular trainings, which I have facilitated for organizational clients such as bc211 and Coast Mental Health.

Transformative Care: Resiliency Building for Front Line Workers

Burnout, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue are occupational hazards of working in the field of mental health, trauma and addictions. That is, unless staff are trained to manage their own stress levels, and develop the skills to manage challenging client behaviours. When staff practice self-care and use effective interpersonal skills at the same time, the outcome of interactions with clients are transformed.

This workshop will:

Prevent and/or reduce the impacts of burnout, compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma on staff and the organization.

Create better outcomes for clients who have had negative experiences dealing with systems of service.

Solution Focused Therapy

Solution Focused Therapy is a goal oriented, resiliency-based model of therapeutic change which may be used successfully for both short and long-term support. Based on the belief that clients have the capacity to manage the challenges of their lives, SF Therapy seeks to empower clients to access and build upon their coping skills and strengths. It blends well with the principles of psychosocial rehabilitation and can be a valuable tool working at the intersection of mental health issues, trauma and addictions.

This workshop will:

Add effective, and valuable skills to any front line staff member’s helping toolkit

Research has demonstrated a strong link between the prevalence of trauma and mental health disorders. Cultivating a trauma-informed practice increases staff competency in working with clients with a history of trauma. Trauma-informed interventions may increase the effectiveness of therapy for clients who have experienced traumas such as abuse, assault, natural disasters, etc…

This workshop will:

Increase staff confidence in working with clients who have experienced trauma

Improve the efficacy of helper interventions

By the end of the workshop, staff will:

Be able to identify the symptoms of trauma and recognize the signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Understand the impact of trauma on the brain, nervous system and emotional regulation